UF STUDENTS HAVE DESIGNS ON DOWNTOWN ONLY IMAGINATIONS LIMIT LAUDERDALE LOOK OF 2008

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Unencumbered by politics or preconceptions, 12 university students let their imaginations run wild when they were asked what the downtown area could become in 20 years.

The students, from the University of Florida's Graduate Design Architecture Program, replaced Southwest Fifth Avenue with a canal. They also designed downtown housing, marinas, a water taxi system and pedestrian walkways to connect the banks of the New River.

"It gives us a glimpse of the future," said Bill Johnson, Riverwalk director. "If we hadn't done this no one in Fort Lauderdale would know what Riverwalk looks like. Riverwalk is not a green strip along the river, it's the urbanization of Fort Lauderdale."

"We tend to deal with the down side of an idea," said City Manager Connie Hoffmann. "What the developer wants; what we want; opposition to the plan; overcoming the opposition. They weren't burdened with what you can't do. They let their minds go with what you can do."

Three-dimensional models of the students' ideas were unveiled on Wednesday for about 100 city officials, planners, architects, developers and residents.

City Commissioners allocated $30,000 for the project, which took students four months to complete and cost the university an additional $120,000.

Students based their ideas on the city's downtown redevelopment plan. Central to the plan is Riverwalk, a mile-long park along the New River that will feature green spaces, shops and cafes. Additional business development along the New River and an arts and science and historic/entertainment district is part of the plan.

The students formed two-member teams. Each team created its own 4-by-3-foot models, and then they all worked together to design a full-scale 4-by-8-foot model.

The final model combined their ideas on redevelopment of the New River, Riverwalk, the central business district and surrounding neighborhoods.

"We looked at the river as the center of the city rather than something that divides the city," said student Cedric Christian, pointing to a series of pedestrian crosswalks and water taxi stops.

Other teams concentrated on housing.

"Residents downtown make a city alive," said student Troy Willingham. "Our goal was to look at housing and see how to improve it. We wanted to find ways to promote an active downtown."

Students and their professors emphasized that Riverwalk had to be a combination of parks, large developments and smaller cafes, restaurants and shops.

"I think there should be places on the river to feed the pigeons and the squirrels," said Harry Merritt, professor of architecture. "But if that's all it is, Riverwalk will fail."

Organ Wetterquist, professor of Architecture and Planning, reminded the audience that the model was not restricted by the realities of urban planning.

"We have shown you a laboratory example of downtown," Wetterquist said. "The reality, of course, is quite different."